Background: Hematologic abnormalities are common in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients; which is one of the major public health problems worldwide. However, there is paucity of information about the hematologic profile of PTB patients with and without HIV in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess hematological abnormalities of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without HIV at the university of Gondar hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at university of Gondar hospital. Socio-demographic data was collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. Five milliliter of venous blood sample was collected and divided in to 3ml EDTA tube for complete blood count with Cell Dyne 1800 hematological analyzer and 2ml citrated tube for erythrocyte sedimentation rate determination. Data were entered into EPI info version 3.5.3 and then transferred to SPSS 20 for analysis. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the mean values of hematological parameters between PTB patients and PTB-HIV coinfected patients.

Result: A total of 100 study subjects (50 PTB and 50 PTB-HIV coinfected) were included with mean age of 31.3 ± 10.3 years for PTB patients and 32.1 ± 9.2 years for PTB-HIV co-infected patients. In this study, there were significantly lower mean values of Hgb (P = 0.049), platelet count (P < 0.001) and neutrophils counts (P = 0.007) among PTB-HIV coinfected patients when compared with PTB patients. From PTB infected patients 46% were anemic, 6% leucopenic, 22% neutropenic, 8% lymphopenic and 8% thrombocytopenic. On the other hand, from PTB-HIV coinfected patients 60% were anemic, 14% leucopenic, 66% neutropenic, 12% lymphopenic and 20% thrombocytopenic. ESR value was increased in all patients.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated high prevalence of neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia among PTB-HIV coinfected patients. HIV con-infection worsen hematological abnormalities of PTB patients. Assessment of hematological parameters can be used as an indicator in the diagnosis and follow up of PTB patients coinfected with HIV. We recommended assessment of PTB patients with or without HIV for various hematological disorders.

Key words: Hematological parameters, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, PTB/HIV co-infection, Gondar